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CENTER FOR CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICES
Upcoming Events
Power Of Compassion To Transform Our World: An Evening With Thupten Jinpa, Ph.D
6pm To 7:30pm, October 11th 2023 | Get Your Tickets
Hosted By Arts And Lectures In The Ballroom at CSUSM
Our invited speaker Thupten Jinpa, Ph.D., one of the foremost experts on compassion, will talk about the power of compassion to transform our world. He will provide an understanding of how compassion can be a source of solace, strength and even happiness in these turbulent times. Dr. Thupten Jinpa will provide concrete and practical actions that we can take to move us on the path to peace and justice.
- About Dr. JinpaDr. Thupten Jinpa is the Founder of the Compassion Institute, and the principal author of Compassion Cultivation Training™ at Stanford University. Dr. Jinpa trained as a monk at Ganden Monastic University, India. He also holds a B.A. in philosophy and a Ph.D. in religious studies from Cambridge University. Dr. Thupten Jinpa has been the principal English translator to H.H. the Dalai Lama since 1985. His publications include A Fearless Heart: How the Courage to be Compassionate Can Transform Our Lives.
Transforming Higher Education Through Contemplative Practices
June 21 - 23, 2024 | 3-day Conference
We invite you to join us for a three-day conference on how contemplative practices can transform higher education. The unprecedented events of the last several years have made it evident that we need to prepare ourselves and our students to be resilient in the face of constant uncertainty. Research has demonstrated that contemplative practices can expand our capacity for compassion, focus and resilience. More about the CCP Conference
History & Purpose
Contemplative practices have been used for centuries in many diverse traditions to quiet the habitual chatter of the mind, cultivate a capacity for deeper awareness and understanding of one’s purpose, and enhance feelings of connectedness and compassion. Recent research conducted by scientists in a variety of disciplines has empirically supported the value of such practices.
We want to provide support to all members of the campus community through contemplative practices, pedagogy, and research that foster deep learning, reduced stress, increased capacity for compassionate listening, and increased well-being.
Our Mission
We wish to foster a community of awareness and appreciation for our own and other's experiences through contemplative practices, pedagogy and research. We affirm that in an increasingly interdependent world, learning to listen with kindness and curiosity generates compassion, connectedness and the ability to see the world from diverse perspectives.
Why Mindfulness?
Now more than ever before, we need to learn how to focus our attention and our energies towards meeting the local and global challenges we collectively face, such as pandemics, climate change, racial tensions, economic insecurity, and mental health crises. The unprecedented events of the last two years have made it evident that for our students to be successful we need to prepare them and ourselves to be resilient in the face of constant uncertainty. We must learn how to engage with people who have different lived experiences and worldviews with the intention of finding a shared purpose grounded in our common humanity. In short, we need to learn how to be more compassionate and how to work together toward the greater good. Having a Center for Contemplative Practices will coalesce our efforts at providing these learning opportunities in a consistent, coordinated, and time-sensitive way.
What Does the Research Say?
Research studies and our own experiences with contemplative pedagogy have demonstrated that mindfulness practices can expand our capacity to be resilient under uncertainty, to be compassionate, to be focused, and to listen to each other with kindness and curiosity. Consistent practice of contemplative techniques can literally change brain functionality and help us use our cognitive, emotional, and physical selves more effectively and foster deep learning. Research has shown that contemplative practices can help students improve readiness to learn, reduce stress and anxiety, increase focused attention, and regulate emotional reactivity. Contemplative pedagogy is now widely recognized and accepted by research and practitioner communities as an innovative and effective teaching practice. It can help create more inclusive, identity-safe student learning communities that have the courage and resilience to listen and learn from each other and together transform the world.
What We Offer
Online & In-Person Mindfulness Sessions
Come join us for a daily dose of mindfulness on a drop-in basis!
- online or in person
- no prior experience necessary
- bring a friend, a family member, or a colleague
Workshops, Retreats, & Courses
We offer 2-hour workshops, half-day retreats, four or six week or semester long courses
- all offerings are free
- no prior experience necessary
Contemplative Pedagogy Workshops
If you are an educator and want to learn more about how you can incorporate contemplative pedagogy into your classes please join us for a workshop, a summer retreat, or a year long faculty learning community.
Attend a Conference
We offer an annual conference in the summer. Please stay tuned for information about our next conference
Research Opportunities
Participate in research opportunities run by our faculty on contemplative practices and the impact of stress, compassion, civic action, and emotional well-being
Service Learning & Internships
We offer service learning and intership opportunities for students every semester.
Here's what some of our students have to say about their experience!
Partner With Us!
We are always open to the possibility of exploring new partnerships and ways of engaging with you. Partnerships
Invite us to provide a Customized Session for you
We are happy to work with you to provide you or your unit/organization with customized sessions/workshops/ trainings/retreats. Customized Sessions
Registration
If you would like to register with us or have inquiries: CCP Interest Form